Wausau is the third major central Wisconsin city to ban cellphone use while driving. Both Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids have a similar ordinance in place.

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As Wausau becomes the third major central Wisconsin city adopting an ordinance that bans the use of cellphones from driving, law enforcement officials from two other municipalities with similar rules say they have been effective, albeit sometimes tricky to enforce.

In Marshfield, which became the first central Wisconsin city to enact such a ban about five years ago, officers are encouraged to make traffic stops whenever they see drivers on the phone, but many times drivers will put their phones down when they see a squad car coming toward them, Police Chief Gary Jepsen said.